Let’s get right to the issue at hand. Flowers on your wedding cake. Should they be used or should they not be used. That is the question.

In today’s wedding blog we are discussing if flowers should be added to your cake or not.

It is not so much about wanting flowers on your beautiful wedding cake. Of course you want it to be beautiful! it is more about are the flowers being used appropriately to have on and around food, and could they be harmful if they are eaten?

The short answer is YES! Some flowers commonly used in wedding floral design can cause problems if they are eaten. Some can cause irritation, while others contain compounds that can cause more serious illness.

We are seeing so many florists simply pushing flower stems into cakes that deserves a second look. Just because you can does not mean you should. Here are several reason why you should not put certain florals in or on your wedding cake.

Which Flowers Should Not Go on a Wedding Cake?

Here’s the thing, just because a flower is pretty enough for your wedding cake doesn’t mean it belongs there. There are quite a few flowers that should not be placed directly on or stuck into a cake. A few examples are hydrangeas, delphinium, calla lilies, foxglove and baby’s breath.

There are many others but did not want to fill you with a long list. This is about being informed and to do your research and ask your florist all the questions about what flowers are appropriate to be used on your wedding cake.

For us, as a seasoned and educated florist, we always ask the question are you wanting flowers on your wedding cake? If the answer is NO, we move on. If the answer is YES, we go through the list of flowers being used throughout the wedding design and explain which ones we can safely use for cake work.

This is where having an experienced wedding florist in Orlando or wherever your getting married can make a huge difference.

Your florist should be willing to have an open conversation with you about what is going on your cake and how those flowers will be handled

Now, we have no control over pesticides from other countries, but our process begins with cold, clean water and careful handling. We have our own process for preparing flowers for cake work, and yes, we have a few little tricks of the trade that we are going to keep to ourselves! We also never stick flower stems directly into a cake. We use only food grade materials when a stem is needed for the design. no wax, no tape and definatley no glue. Nothing that shouldn’t be there goes anywhere near the cake.

And Then There s Another Option….

We also highly recommend chatting with your baker to discuss the potential of sugar flowers.

The sugar flowers can resemble the real flowers used across the wedding floral designs. Take a look at the wedding below. This was a Lakeland Florida wedding we designed and the cake was a huge part of the wedding and created by Sweet Cakes by Andrea Reed.

We had a conversation with Andrea and gave her all the names of the flwor we could not place directly onto the cae and she made them!

It was FABO!!

Ask All The Questions

Whether you are working with a Tampa Florist, an Orlando wedding florist, a Lakeland florist, or a floral designer somewhere else entirely, don’t be afraid to ask questions.

What flowers are going on my cake?

Are those flowers appropriate for cake work?

How are the flowers being prepared?

How are the flowers being kept from coming into direct contact with the cake?

If your florist isn’t sure talk to your baker. Ask questions. Do your research.

You are not being difficult. You are simply making sure that the beautiful cake you spent time and money choosing is being treated like what it actually is FOOD.

Flowers Should Be Beautiful AND Thoughtful

We love flowers on wedding cakes. We really do.

When they are thoughtfully selected and properly handled, they can be one of the prettiest details of the wedding.

But pretty isn’t the only thing that matters.

At Jill Heaton Floral Design, we believe your florist should be honest, transparent and willing to explain the why behind the floral decisions they make for your wedding.

That is how we work.

We don’t just show up with flowers. We think through the details, the design, the venue, the logistics and yes even your cake.

So, if you’re looking for a wedding florist in Orlando, Tampa, Lakeland or anywhere throughout Central Florida, you’ve come to the right place.

Take a look around our little corner of the floral world and see what we do.

When you’re ready, inquire.

We love chatting about everything wedding and event florals.

Meet Jill

Hi I am Jill, the founder, owner and head floral designer behind Jill Heaton Floral Design. With more than 37 years of experience in floral and event design, I create full-service wedding florals throughout Central Florida and beyond.

I’m known for my hands-on approach, honest advice and attention to every floral detail. I believe your wedding flowers should be beautiful, thoughtfully designed and expertly executed from start to finish.

When I am not designing weddings, you’ll usually find me sipping coffee, rocking out to musical theatre while at the gym, or relaxing in a recliner watching everything Star Wars or Marvel.